How to Make a Green Juice: Video, Recipe & Juicing FAQs

170 Comments

Hi Sweet Friends,

I haven’t been able to stop talking or writing about green juice since my first sip. What can I say? That green nectar feels like pure, invigorating oxygen shooting to every corner of my being. Today, juicing is as much a part of my life as brushing my teeth, but it wasn’t always second nature. I’m reminded of my early juicing adventures each time I receive a question from a reader who wants to juice, but just can’t seem to get the hang of it or is too intimidated to even try. People think they have to do it perfectly, but the bottom line is you can’t mess it up!

I don’t want anything to stand in the way of you and your green juice. That’s why I made this video and released my newest book, Crazy Sexy Juice. There’s no better time than today to begin, spice up or revive your love affair with juicing.

So what is green juice and why is it so spectacular?

When you run your produce through a juicer, the pulp is separated from the juice. You may be wondering why anyone would go through all that trouble. Absorption, baby. Since your body doesn’t have to work to digest the fiber, it can easily pull the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients straight into your bloodstream. Plus, giving your digestive system a break means your body can focus on resting and repairing your hard-working cells. Don’t get me wrong, fiber is awesome! But it’s OK to skip it in my glass of emerald sunshine, since radical roughage is a big part of my Crazy Sexy plant-filled diet. Plus, you can fit a lot more vegetable goodness in a green juice (a pound or more!) than you can eat with your fork in one sitting. What else can you drink that’ll do such phenomenal things for your health and put a large dent in your five recommended servings of fruits and veggies per day? (Hint: Nothing beats green juice!)

Now that we know more about the how and why of juicing, let’s break down the Crazy Sexy Green Juice Formula.

This handy-dandy infographic walks you through my daily recipe and gives you lots of room to play. See it as a jumping off point and a tool for you to create your own green juice masterpieces! Bring it with you to the grocery store and post it next to your juicer for inspiration.

So far, you’ve picked up some newbie smarts, watched my how-to vid and have a trusty recipe in your holster, but I know that your brain is still probably brimming with questions. Read on to find out the answers to some fabulous juicing FAQs.

Frequently Asked Juicing Questions:

It takes me sooo long to make a juice! How can I make the process go more quickly?

Let me first say that the benefits of juicing are well worth the time and effort it takes, but there are ways to cut down on the day-to-day juice prep and juicer cleaning. It doesn’t have to be a drag! Here are three big time savers.

Cut your daily produce prep in half by washing your fruits and veggies as soon as you get home from the store. Then divide and store them in single serving bags or storage containers.

If you can’t wash your juicer stat, prevent future scrubbing nightmares by giving your machine a quickie rinse and then soaking the juicer parts in hot soapy water. When you return, it’ll be a breeze to clean!

Drinking two servings of juice per day doesn’t have to mean more work. Make a double batch in the morning and store one serving in the fridge for later. Which brings us to our next question …

Will my juice go bad if I don’t drink it right away?

In my opinion, no. Will it lose a little nutritional bang over the course of a few hours? Maybe, but that afternoon juice is still much, much more nourishing and hydrating than soda or coffee. I store my second helping in a mason jar filled to the very top of the glass and seal it with a lid to keep out as much air as possible (oxygen eats away at the nutrients and enzymes in your green drink). The pep in my step after my 1PM green juice is all the proof I need!

What juicer should I buy?

I’ve tried countless juicers over the past decade, but I’ve really enjoyed using these models:

I’ve found these machines to be easiest to clean and use, which means I’ll juice more often. Plus, they have wider feed chutes, which makes prep a snap (you don’t have to cut veggies and fruits into super small pieces). I go into great detail about a variety of juicer options and models in my juicer review. Shop around and find a juicer that matches your lifestyle and will be with you for years to come. It’s worth the investment!

I just started juicing and it makes me feel sick. What’s going on?

You may be experiencing some detox symptoms. Green juice kicks your body’s internal broom into high gear, so toxins could be exiting your cells and tissues more quickly than your body can eliminate them. This causes a variety of symptoms including: mucus, skin eruptions, headaches, stinky gas, a white coating on the tongue, tummy trouble, fatigue as well as irregular bowel movements. Woo-hoo! Don’t worry, these symptoms will go away as your toxin surplus reduces. In the meantime, dial down your discomfort by using milder greens like romaine and spinach and only juicing once per day.

I’m worried about pesticides.Should I only juice organic fruits and vegetables?

Organic is best, but I know it can also be pricey especially when you up your produce haul for green juices. I strike a balance by following the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen/Clean Fifteen recommendations. I always buy organic for the Dirty Dozen. If I buy conventional for the Clean Fifteen, I remove the fruit or vegetable skin before juicing to reduce my exposure to pesticides. This system works best for me and my pocketbook, but you need to make a decision that feels right in your gut and will make you feel great while guzzling your greens.Your turn: Do you have a juicing tip or recipe? Share it in the comments below!

170 Responses…

Re green drinks/juicing – Not sure if you mentioned how DELICIOUS green juice can be – half an apple and/or banana is a great addition for people just starting out.

I use kale or spinach, LOTS of cilantro (cleansing and so yummy), parsley, celery, dark green lettuce, apple/banana
and lemon juice (helps to keep it fresh). If I have left over, I freeze it – losing a bit of nutritional value but not much.

And I know you are a fan of the Vita Mix but I don’t see it mentioned. It is the ONLY juicer I will use for two reasons…it breaks down the fiber in the veg/fruit to the cellular level (even apple cores, seeds and all) and you are not wasting or missing out on all the benefits of fiber in your drink; and it is super super easy to clean…a big plus for those new to juicing. And of course you can use it for all sorts of other things…making your own almond milk, ice cream, soup etc.

Yes, it’s expensive, but I have had mine for over ten years with no problems.

Hi Patricia: I believe that a Vita mix is a blender rather than a juicer. I’ve heard Kris explain before that the juicer takes out the fiber (all the pulp that comes out) which may be hard to digest for some people. My parents bought a Vita Mix probably 15+ years ago and haven’t had any problems. I just got married just under two years ago & bought one with the cash we were given as prezzies. I’ve been loving it!

Hi Rachel
They are great machines…and they are juicers and blenders and grain grinders…multi use which makes the price more palatable. As juicers they sort of “pre-digest” the fiber by breaking it down so small; very easy to digest.

You may be confusing your VitaMix and Juicer… you can’t “juice” a banana, in fact all instructions for juicers will tell you not to juice a banana. However, a banana in a smoothie made in a VitaMix is great. A VitaMix is not a juicer, it is a high speed blender, which is probably why Kris didn’t mention it in her blog about juicing.

I find that alternating harder veggies like brocoli stems & celery, with the leafy greens, a good way to help move the leafy greens thru the juicer. In fact if I don’t go it, the leafy greens tend to get stuck

Hi Kris! Getting to experience your authentic warmth and generousity at this weekend’s NYC Writers Conference was amazing! When I started juicing/smoothying last year, the first thing I did was buy your ebook which you had “coincidentally” just released. 🙂 Your ebook is so simple and yet also so very comprehensive! It gave me exactly the support I needed to get over my inhibitions, and OMG! The difference juices/smoothies have made in my health and clarity has been unprecedented! My new motto: Drink green and prosper! I tell everyone who is interested about your wonderful offerings, and how instrumental you have been on my journey of healing. Thank you!

I just started juicing this past March after reading Crazy Sexy Diet and I am in love. I’ve struggled with anemia in the past so I always make sure I juice lemon along with my dark leafy greens so I get the most benefit from the iron!

Kris, I’m salvating for a green juice but got out of my juicing mojo routine. Slap my hand and send me to the corner of the classroom since I don’t even own a juicer anymore. You’ve inspired me to hop on the green giant juice wagon again but I’d like a juicer more compact in size. I do make smoothies but there’s something light, fluffy, and cloud like about fresh juice. Can you or anyone reccomend a juice machine compact in size or blink and command the universe for me to fall head over heels in love with one while strolling through my day. Thanks!

I started juicing almost a year ago and love it! When i started out, I found I had to actually get used to some of the tastes of the juices, but now, I love them all. Actually even crave them. A trick I found out from one recipe, was if you are having trouble with the taste of some of the bitter leafy greens, add in a little (slice or two) of watermelon. It makes a difference and my 5-year-old son will drink any juice if it has a slice of watermelon in it. Give it a try!

Also watermelon is awesome juiced during the summer and frozen, so in need of a quick juice on the go, you can pull something out and viola, yummy juice! Dad showed me that trick in the snowstorm over christmas stuck in the middle of nowhere, I was over the tea and hot chocolate and wanted something juiced, and outcame his watermelon juice he had done up earlier that past summer.

Been reading about that, too. According to Bulletproofexec for kale fans: “Unfortunately oxalates are not just in kale. Other high sources of oxalate are, from highest to lowest, – buckwheat, black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, rhubarb, amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, chocolate, most nuts, most berries, and beans. ” 2 things are recommended to help: steaming those veggies (which negates juicing) or when making a smoothie “…toss your calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide supplements in the blender with your kale. Let the harmful oxalic acid precipitate out in the blender, so your body can filter it out when you drink it. If you allow free oxalic acid into your body without minerals at the exact same time, it will absorb into your body…” Supposedly, goitrogenic veggies (e.g., kale) that contain oxalates bind with minerals and can cause nutrient deficiencies. They say they don’t recommend supplementing calcium/magnesium in general, but in this case, it helps.

I use – especially the green (+ carrott / beetroot) pulp – by adding seasoning, onions or leeks, garlic + ginger, chickpea flower (+ eggs, if you are not a vegan), and lots of fresh herbs. I add anything else I like, e.g. grated carrotts. I mix it all with my hands. Then I press the pulp into an icecream scoop, and put it on baking paper (on an oven tray) into the oven. Bake them at 180° C – for about 20-25 minutes in the oven (check with a pointed knife, but don’t let them get too dry). Over time, you will get routine!! Enjoy!

Ok so I realize I only have a mixer and not a proper juicer so I might as well not try… Alos, you never talk about the taste. i’m afraid I will find this mixture disgusting… once it’s all juiced it’s going to be wasted; Lastly is there anything left of the juiced veggie that can be eaten ? Sorry for my questions but I never juiced !

sorry you did mention running the pulp a second time as to not waste this veggies.
You will think i’m crazy but can I juice some frozen fruits and veggies (defrosted) that I buy in the store or does it have not point ?

After reading “Crazy Sexy Diet” three months ago, I began juicing and haven’t looked back! Well, until this morning. I blew out the second-hand juicer I have been using! Bummer. I hopped on line to see what you recommended and have upgraded a bit to the Breville Compact Juice Fountain. Can’t wait till it arrives on my doorstep on Wednesday.

Thank you for all the inspiration. I am trying to keep my LGL (Large Granular Leukemia) in check by “using my kitchen as a pharmacy.” I have my next doctor’s appointment this week– this will be the first one since I have been seriously juicing and watching my alkaline level. Looking forward to seeing some difference in my numbers! Thanks again.

Hi Kris
I have a few digestive issues for which I have going to an acupuncturist
He has diagnosed it as a weak spleen combined with gall bladder toxicity. Even though there has been marked improvement in the digestion I feel we have now reached a point of stagnation. I do want to try juicing but according to him things may get worse becauseof the spleen.
Please advise.

Hi! I’m no expert but I had a similar spleen issue recently, and by that I mean, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, and I had to stop the green smoothies for a couple of weeks. I’ve been reintroducing them gently and so far no problem. You may want to look up what’s good for the spleen online. Since according to TCM, the spleen is basically where energy is generated, I found that it likes the feeling of home. It likes feeling homely, and safe. So I started resting a little more, taking care of myself a little more. It also likes cooked things rathen than raw, and warm things so it prefers warm drinks rather than cold, but if you are gonna drink something cold, drink something warm before that. There is much more, just look it up. Also, what someone recommended was that I take a bunch of veggies and cook them and then blend them so I’d have a cream of veggies 😉 Not as nutritious, but I’d get the veggies in, ans easier on the spleen 😉 I really love the feeling the green smoothie gives me so I just try to balance stuff out. Start small and see how you feel. Good luck!! 🙂

I have been juicing and making green smoothies for a number of months but wonder if the green apple is really ok as I really struggle with Candida. The same queston applies to using carrots. Advice anyone?

This was perfect even for me, whose been juicing all kinds of things for awhile. I loved watching it. My tip today is: sometimes, just to mix up the nutrition a bit, instead of using ginger I juice a bit of turmeric root or gobo root. Doesn’t really change the flavor PLUS i get the bennies of those.

Over the years I have learned that is not wise to juice kale or spinach due to the concentrated amount of oxalic acid in those greens. What have you found on that topic in our studies of juicing?
Love, love, love your videos.
Peace and Raw Health,
Elizabeth

Thanks Kris. I have been juicing on a near daily basis since the start of the year and am so glad I started, but I have had a few days without juicing. Watching your video this morning made sure I started off the morning with a green juice (greens, cucumber, celery, ginger, lemon and apples), rather than the coffee I was contemplating! I love smoothies too. Thanks for being such an inspiration 🙂

I noticed that your cucumbers were peeled. Is that important to avoid toxins? I’ve been throwing whole cucumbers into my green smoothies. (I’m not juicing yet. We have a Vitamix, but no juicer. It’s a start!)

We juice the night before because we live in an apt and hubby drinks his at 6am. It is fine, but I think it depends on the machine. Something about the higher rpms can oxidize the juice faster? Our masticating juicer will last up to 72 hours in a fridge, not sure about a centrifugal juicer? I gues just make a sample juice up and see 🙂

I have totally been there! What worked for me was easing into the veggie juice. You not only get used to the veggie taste, you start craving it! I started with juicing sweet fruits like pineapple, watermelon, and green apples to help hide the veggie taste, and slowly would add less fruit and more veggies until I could handle just veggie juice. I hope this helps! Good luck

Tiffany, that is a great tip! I have seen a couple family members juice, but I’ve not taken the full plunge yet due to my fear of distasteful green juices. I will definitely take your tip into consideration when I start juicing. Thank you!

This was just what I needed this morning! I was trying to decide what to make for breakfast and was seriously considering a bagel and cream cheese… But when I checked my email and saw a new message from my sweet friend, Kris about juicing, it inspired me to put the processed food down and plug in my juicer! I will now be making juice for breakfast instead and feeling so much better. Thanks, Kris!

This last year I worked for a Canadian company and traveled often. Spending too much time waiting for connections at airports & Living out of a Hotel was difficult to eat as Healthy as I liked and impossible at times to juice.
I finally started to travel with my “Bullet Blender” & created green smoothies by buying organic greens & fruits at my destination. While these smoothies were not as good as my home juicing they satisfied my carvings for greens.
The bullet is small, doesn’t weigh much, and fits easily into a suitcase.

Another great tip to speed up the cleaning process… keep old bulk bags or buy compostable liners (Breville makes a great one) to line the compost receptacle. Then you can quickly tie-up and toss the compost (or save for another use!) and it’s one less part to wash. This step makes clean-up a breeze for me!

I started to juice two months ago with an old blender after finding out that another lymphoma was coming back in my skin while pregnant… It scared the hell out of me and it was a good kick in the *** to start taking better care of my self. My body was sending me a lot of messages and I was not paying attention.

I blend everything (even celery and kale stems) with a little bit of water and I use a pastry strainer over a stainless steel bowl to collect the juice (easier than the cheesecloth) . I know it is not the perfect juice, but my liver is very happy now : ) . One day, I will get that VitaMix!

Having a little one to take care of, (+ the one inside me) I prepare my vegetables 3 or 4 days in advance in Zipploc bags to save time in the morning and it really helps.

You were a source of inspiration to make a lot of changes in my diet and accepting what is going on in my life….

Catherine,
l loved your comment and others like yours that show you don’t have to buy the latest and greatest shiny machine(s) to eat health(ier) and add more plants and juices to your daily life. You prove with some willingness and creativity you can do great working with what you have and within your limits.

Dear Chris,
I truely love you words on the hay house summit – concerning turtle power and many other things. Such healing it brought to my heart to listen to you. Thank you. And now as I read your words like “…bottom line is you can’t mess it up!”. I just feel so thankful and shouting “yes, yes, yes!” – I have melanoma, and I am finding my way into green juicing and many other things. For me it all circular – I have to find things in the now, to move a little back and the forward again, like circular movements, and slowly as turtle. Thank you ever so much for sharing your thoughts.
In respect, in love and in light and cheers (must have my evening green drink – just had a wheatgrass….uuuuh, haven’t learned to love that yet!)
Lotte Lings Greir

I have kidney stones and have been told (and untold) that greens will contribute to the formation of future stones…kale, spinach, broccoli. Any info on this? I’d love to juice, but am worried that the greens will kick my kidneys’ butts.

Great blog as always! I had started juicing about a year or so ago when I was living in an area where organic fruits and vegetables were accessible. I had moved twice since and I hadn’t juiced in a long time because I couldn’t get hold of organic produce anymore.

I have moved back to my hometown in Zamboanga City in the Philippines for health reasons and I really want to get back to juicing again. My hometown is rich with fresh fruits and vegetables, but I haven’t seen anybody selling anything organic. Can I juice non-organic produce? I’ve always felt queasy about doing it because it felt like chugging down a glassful of pesticide. 🙁 But I really want and need to start juicing again. I miss the energy it brings.

Hi Kris. I am a two time ovarian cancer survivor. After my second surgery, I was determined to take a more active role in my health. I noticed your cookbook, Crazy Sexy Kitchen, while browsing at a bookstore, and started reading the information about juicing. It’s funny now, but I remember thinking, “I could never be a vegan, but this whole juicing thing makes sense to me!” I had already started chemo, and my red blood cell count was beginning to drop. When this situation happened after my first surgery, I ended up needing a blood transfusion. I did not want to go through that again! In October of 2012, between my second and third round of chemo, I made my first batch of juice. I had downloaded your juicing & smoothie e-guide, and per your advice, blanched my veggies for a few seconds before juicing them to reduce the risk of bacteria. When my blood was drawn for the third round of chemo, my red blood cell count had risen ever so slightly. I was encouraged! I continued to juice through chemo, and my red blood cell count continued upward. I did not have to have a blood transfusion! Also, in January of 2013 and after researching the benefits of good nutrition, I became a vegan! I also consulted a chiropractor/nutritionist in April who practices “functional medicine.” She found several deficiences for which I am receiving supplementation. She loves my juicing habit – calling it my “liquid vitamin” – and I began seeing her once per week. Then, my work “family” asked me to come back to the office. They held my position for five months after my first surgery in 2011 and eight months after my second surgery in 2012! However, I was presented with a new challenge! How would I go to work with my new lifestyle of juicing, learning how to cook vegan, and office visits with my chiropractor/nutritionist?! I was offered a part time position to give me time to balance everything. I now juice once or twice per week. Since I no longer blanch the veggies, the juice tastes a little stronger so I started adding cilantro, jalepeno, and lime. I continue to play with different combinations of herbs, fruits & spices. Sometimes I strain the juice, but it is still super green and nutritious. Here’s my tip: I bought 8 oz freezable mason jars! They are the perfect size for my freezer, and I freeze my juice as soon as it’s made. I don’t fill the jars all the way to the top to allow for expansion, and I take one (or two) out at night and put it in the fridge. Sometimes it’s still a little icy the next morning, but I love having the little shards of ice in my juice, which make it very palatable. I drink it on the way to work. This system is working out great and helps simplify my life by not having to juice every day. I am so thankful to you for all the information you provided – and my work “family” for their support!

Okay nobody laugh at me but I didn’t know that you could save your juice until the afternoon. What a relief! That just changed the game for me. I thought that if I didn’t have one of the more expensive juicers that I had to drink it right away and wait until I got home to juice. I will totally be getting some mason jars soon.

Thank you for the inspiring post and comments! I just tried the cucumber-apple-greens-cilantro-lime juice and my 4-yo and I are happily chugging.

I usually make green smoothies because I have a Blendtec but not a greens-worthy juicer. But today I tried running my blended smoothie through my 20-yo secondhand juicer and got a great result (haven’t tried squeezing the smoothie through a nutmilk bag yet). It’s a lot of cleanup but fast prep. I’ll probably do this from now on, but I used to use grapes instead of apples in the smoothie because they gave a less fuzzy result. (More sugar, though.)

Thanks for the great resource – I still have not started juicing at home – I found this a-mazing juice at Whole Foods which I think is the perfect solution for me – and it’s the only one I’ve seen that’s 100% organic: http://www.sujajuice.com/

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe you just commited 2nd degree ‘vegie-slaughter’. The type of juicer you used in the video is centrifuigal…no?
This type of juicer oxidises most of the good stuff (vitamins, minerals) so I’m told.
I believe you should use a masticating juicer, while more expensive, is worth the investment because it not only maximises the nutrients you get but is so efficient you wouldn’t need to re-juice the pulp as it comes out as dry fibre?

I’m more of a green smoothie gal myself, but I totally appreciate the green juices. In fact, my green smoothie is making itself right now in my blender. Ever since February of 2012 when I first found Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Diet, I have been making green smoothies! They never get old or dull.
One thing I have read that I think is important is to rotate whatever green you are putting into your juice or smoothie. You don’t want to be ingesting say, kale or broccoli week after week. Veggies have small amounts of alkoloids that can build up in our bodies if we do this.
I’m in the middle of my 7th CSD Cleanse and I am so grateful that Kris has brought us all this fabulous way of healthful living.

I shop for juicing veggies at my local farmers market. One of the main farmers, whose prices would make green juicing financially friendly, uses a natural neem spray as pesticide. It is not certified organic, but it sounds much less toxic than standard treatments. In fact, his produce isn’t perfect looking like a lot of conventional ones … leafy veggies have some bug holes & a few bugs stuck to the kale leaves : ) Would this work for my daily juicing?

Hi Suyin
I realise that you posted 7 months ago so don’t know if you’ll see this, but I’ve spent quite a bit of time with organic farmers in India and they all use neem as an approved insect deterrent. I don’t know about the certification process in the States, but in a lot of countries certification is so expensive that small farmers can’t afford it. If you trust your local farmer, go for it!

I’m willing to give it a shot. I found the name of the juicer you’re using, but the website gives you choices of “Masticating, Centrifugal, Citrus, Pulp Ejecting, Low Speed”. Is there a certain direction I should head in/an option that is important?

Hi. I like the idea of juicing, but wonder if blending or smoothies with all the vegies and fruits are better with the fiber? I do a veg and fruit shake every morning and love it. I also have a good juicer. Seems a bit wasteful to me?

So why would juicing be better than smoothies? Both pureed and have all the phytonutrients in them.

I have to ask you something. Do you get gas from your green drinks. I make about a litre (quart) every day. I put some in a mason jar and the rest I drink immediately. What I drink in the morning is fine. But when I drink the mason jar later in the day, I get a lot of gas. I am wondering if it has to do with the fact that is sits for a while? Just so you know I have been juicing daily for over a year now.

I had the same problem and stopped adding cukes but the gas for me was painful and even mild greens weren’t digesting well. Try taking the cukes for a few days and other possible gaseous plants (just Google) and see what happens. You may need to just back off for a while. Kris has also suggested digestive enzymes in the past as well…again just Google to find what’s out there and pick good qlty ones.

Thanks for the article, very helpful and inspiring all. I usually add about about 6 different veggies and one fruit. Or in place of fruit I use Simply OJ instead of water. I also add all ingredients to the blender at night, close tightly, refrigerate overnight, then blend in the morning (to save on time). Does this affect the smoothie? Am I affecting the nutrients or benefits of the veggies?

I am wondering how long exactly it is ok to leave green juice for? I have been making big batches on Sundays and keeping it in the fridge in a large juice container with a lid as I don’t have much time during the week for juicing. I have been using spinach, celery, carrots, green apples, ginger and lemon (rind on) as my recipe and it is quite delicious. I have also been making batches of mason jar salads on Sundays to take to work for lunches during the week to save time as well. I wonder what kind of routines other juicers use to make good use of their time?